Photo By Ashley Roy | Students of the Incident Command System School, Civil Air Patrol National Emergency...... read more read more
EDINBURGH, Ind.- Cadets and students with the Civil Air Patrol National Emergency Services Academy conducted emergency service operations training at Camp Atterbury, Edinburgh, Ind., July 21- Aug. 4.
As the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, Civil Air Patrol supports communities with emergency response, aviation and ground services, youth development and the promotion of air, space and cyber power.
The largest U.S. Air Force funded operation CAP holds, NESA has been conducted at Atterbury since 1998 and trains approximately 600 cadets, youth members 12-20 years old, and adult members over a two-week period across three different schools: National Ground Search and Rescue School, Incident Command System School and Mission Aircrew School.
Training primarily focuses on search and rescue, disaster relief, humanitarian services and similar areas, said Lt. Col. Michael Long, deputy director for NESA and commandant of the National Ground Search and Rescue School.
“Our goal is to train our students in a specialty to the highest standards that we can to provide our customers, whoever they may be based on the mission; FEMA, the Air Force, or the Department of Homeland Security, trained, qualified and highly confident people to do the missions they are asking us to do,” continued Long.
While NESA is comprised of two separate training periods each a week long, many cadets and students in the basic search and rescue course stay and transition to the advanced search and rescue course the second week.
One such student is Cadet Tech. Sgt. Michael Brady, Palwaukee Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, Wheeling, Ill, a distinguished graduate from the basic search and rescue school.
Taking the knowledge base received in classroom training, Brady and other students of the National Ground Search and Rescue School apply those skills in the field during simulated missions. Testing includes land navigations, direction finding, search techniques and basic first aid.
“There’s a lot to put in a week, and they’re only scratching the surface on how much more we can get,” said Brady. “When we get that call, that mission, we’re not an expert but we know that we’re going to be able to do what we’re told and lead others to help that person in need if that’s the situation.”
Brady believes one doesn’t need to have ambitions to go into military service to be a part of CAP or attend NESA, just the drive that everyone has toward volunteerism and all of the CAP core values; integrity, discipline, volunteer service, respect and excellence in everything undertaken.
“Words can’t begin to describe the amount [of training] that goes on here. The sheer amount of knowledge and the people here, the teachers here; a week is not enough. It’s definitely worth coming back,” said Brady, and many people do.
People from all types of backgrounds and every CAP wing are represented during NESA, and some have been coming anywhere from eight to 15 years and return year after year, said Long.
“It’s always great to get people from varying backgrounds and experience levels. We gain a lot of perspective on what people are actually doing in the field, and then we can really train people to a national standard where they can take that back to their local areas,” said Long.
The last week in the basic ground search and rescue course there were 14-year-old cadets and an active duty Air Force lieutenant colonel squadron commander training side-by-side; demonstrating how all experience levels come together during this academy.
Civil Air Patrol has one of the highest retention rates among members and continues to increase, said Long.
“We’re definitely growing and a lot of that quite honestly is the fantastic support we get from Atterbury. CAP has a long history with Atterbury, and it’s been a very beneficial relationship for CAP and NESA in particular. There are great facilities and absolutely fantastic training areas.”
The second rotation of the academy ended Aug. 4, but with a permanent CAP training and response facility at Atterbury the Civil Air Patrol is a frequent visitor to the installation, maintaining the skills necessary to prepare for next year’s NESA and the national search and rescue mission it pursues.
| Date Taken: | 08.05.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.06.2013 10:01 |
| Story ID: | 111419 |
| Location: | EDINBURGH, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 496 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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